I only had a glass roof from the first of January, that 4 months that lets the glass show and not the solid headliner. It is a daily driver and do not see any real pro or cons so far. Waiting on summer getting here and then I might have a comment if the sun shines in to much or lets the car head up when parked in the sun or then the roof I had on the 171 to the older 172 that did not have a glass roof but a solid panel.

Saw somewhere MB later started coating the inside of the glass that if you changed the headliner to expose the glass it was blacked out. Did this to claim to make it cooler. Think it more to stop people from not ordering the panoramic sunroof and then change the headliner and save money.

 

The main disadvantage of the normal panoramic is the lack of a blind (unlike the SL), the glass is tinted but it will be sunnier and hotter in there. The main advantage is making the cabin feel less claustrophobic.

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Having the magic sky/glass roof (no headliner), I do know that being able to darken it at will prevents the inside from turning into a greenhouse in the middle of summer. Not so with the glass roof with the headliner.

You have the headliner in place and the roof is clear glass. Personally, I'd keep that headliner in place.

As said above, no shade to pull over to block out the sun.

 

Being able to see through the glass was a £795 option back in 2013! One can understand why so many owners changed the headliner and why Mercedes then coated in inside of the glass later on to stop that happening....

 

The tinted glass does filter out the sun to some extent. That being said, if the sun is shining why isn't the roof down?
If the roof is up the cabin feels much less gloomy with the tinted glass whatever the weather.
Not sure how often UK weather reaches a level where the sun is much of a problem for many days
If parked facing the sun a full screen sun shield makes a big difference.
@Trev5 made himself a bespoke one.

 

Thanks All , some good points !
never had a car with a glass roof so like the idea as as it already has one under the solid roof liner ,
might as well give it a try , after all i can put the solid one back if i am unhappy

 

I have to say the tinted glass in the panoramic roof is very effective. However if the sun is out the roof is generally down even in winter.

 

Hi, I ordered mine with the pan roof, it was £410 in 2015. It has a fairly dark tint which is great, not too hot but the cabin feels light and airy. I would have gone for magic sky option but the price was stupid and I am glad I spent that on other options instead.
After nearly 6 years of ownership in the sun drenched UK the car has never been too hot and you can watch the pidgeons walk on it when parked.
😁😁

 

These where the UK prices for the R172/SLK for MY2015 - Hence why Magic Sky option is so rare:

What are the pros and the cons of having the glass on show from inside instead of solid liner

Having first owned an R171 - Agree with other UK owners that one of the advantages of moving up to the R172 is the Panoramic or Magic Sky roof option, that makes the cabin fell more airy

The tinted glass does filter out the sun to some extent.

Being an Engineer, I've already pondered on how much "Energy" from the sun comes through the Panoramic roof?
So back last August when We where getting some unusually warm sunny weather for here in the UK:

>> Was showing 39'c in the shade, in our back yard....
Using an old 5Watt car Solar Panel and a DVM set to Amps, I measured the following on the 11th August @ 12:50pm with the car facing SSE: (or the sun ~ 45' to the right when looking out the windscreen)

• Solar Panel on outside of Windscreen = 162mA
• Solar Panel on inside of Windscreen, flat against glass = 102mA (Shows the Tinted Windcreen works!)
  
  
• Solar Panel on outside of side window (~45' to sun) = 135mA
• Solar Panel on inside of Windscreen (~45' to sun) = 67mA (Again, the side window is tinted)
  
  
• Solar Panel on outside of R172 Panoramic Glass Roof, pointing straight up = 146mA
• Solar Panel on inside of Panoramic Glass Roof = 0mA

(Though I've never tested at what point the Solar Panel "Shuts-Down"?)

Just for comparison You'd need 7 of the 5W Solar Panels to cover the Windscreen (7 x 102mA x 12.4v = 8.85 Watts)
Then about 2.8 Solar panels to cover the side window (2.8 x 67mA x 12.4v = 2.33 Watts)

~~ If parked facing the sun a full screen sun shield makes a big difference.
@Trev5 made himself a bespoke one.

Even before I did the above measurements, I purchased this R172 Made to Measure Sun Screen off FleeBay, from the US:

And was pleased with it's performance, when deployed on a sunny day.

Though having done the above Solar Panel test, it does show that three times more energy (heat) comes through the windscreen, in comparison to the side windows and to answer the question in the first post, would appear during the above test that very little energy (heat) at all comes through the Glass Panoramic roof, due to the coating or tinting on the glass....??
Though would be transferred heat from the outside of the roof getting hot, regardless of a solid roof or panoramic roof...

 

> Was showing 39'c in the shade, in our back yard....

Using an old 5Watt car Solar Panel and a DVM set to Amps, I measured the following on the 11th August @ 12:50pm with the car facing SSE: (or the sun ~ 45' to the right when looking out the windscreen)

• Solar Panel on outside of Windscreen = 162mA
• Solar Panel on inside of Windscreen, flat against glass = 102mA (Shows the Tinted Windcreen works!)
  
  
• Solar Panel on outside of side window (~45' to sun) = 135mA
• Solar Panel on inside of Windscreen (~45' to sun) = 67mA (Again, the side window is tinted)
  
  
• Solar Panel on outside of R172 Panoramic Glass Roof, pointing straight up = 146mA
• Solar Panel on inside of Panoramic Glass Roof = 0mA

View attachment 597335
(Though I've never tested at what point the Solar Panel "Shuts-Down"?)

Just for comparison, You'd need 7 of the 5W Solar Panels to cover the Windscreen (7 x 102mA x 12.4v = 8.85 Watts)
Then about 2.8 Solar panels to cover the side window (2.8 x 67mA x 12.4v = 2.33 Watts)

In your windscreen you mention it being tinted. Is that the standard OEM or has it been tinted beyond that? In the USA we can not add a tint to the windscreen unless you have a doctor's prescription to tint the windscreen. Side windows depending on state laws the front seat windows may or may not be tinted. Tint depending on state law again can be from 0% to 70%. Wonder if a reflective window tint that would do anything. I know on my house windows it does reduce the temperature in the room compared to plain glass.

 

You can tint in many US states without prescription as long as it's fairly transparent (usually 70% visible or better).

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You can tint in many US states without prescription as long as it's fairly transparent (usually 70% visible or better).

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You are correct on the side and rear windows no prescription, you can tint the top 3 to 5 inches of the windshield with no prescription but to tint the entire windscreen (windshield) requires a prescription to tint them otherwise no tint.

 

Depends on the state, you can tint the whole front windshield here in Texas.

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Interesting, here is what shows online for Texas, per the Texas Department of Public Safety: You could do a clear entire windshield un-tinted (#5).
Windshield
Sunscreening devices can be applied to the windshield if all of the conditions below are met.

1. Sunscreening devices must be applied above the AS-1 line. If there is no AS-1 line, sunscreening devices must end five inches below the top of the windshield.
2. Sunscreening devices may not be red, amber, or blue in color.
3. Sunscreening devices, when measured in combination with the original glass, must have a light transmittance value of 25% or more.
4. Sunscreening devices, when measured in combination with the original glass, must have a luminous reflectance value of 25% or less.
5. A clear (un-tinted) UV film is allowed anywhere on the front windshield without a medical exemption being required.

It goes on to say there can be exceptions;
ACQUIRE A MEDICAL EXEMPTION

Motorists must obtain a signed medical exemption statement from a licensed physician or licensed optometrist, which should:

• Identify with reasonable specificity the driver or occupant of the vehicle; and
• State that, in the physician's or optometrist's professional opinion, the equipping of the vehicle with sunscreening devices is necessary to safeguard the health of the driver or occupant of the vehicle.

 

Yeap #10 is what allows to do the whole windshield, minimum transmission is 70% or 80% if I recall correctly.

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Yeap #10 is what allows to do the whole windshield, minimum transmission is 70% or 80% if I recall correctly.

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Not sure where you see #10 and where you base your recall. Here is the website for Texas.

Window Tinting Standards | Department of Public Safety

www.dps.texas.gov

 

Apologies that should have been #5

"5. A clear (un-tinted) UV film is allowed anywhere on the front windshield without a medical exemption being required."

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Apology accepted. That was stated in my post #15 in the first two lines.

 

I just fitted mine, took all of 30 min as I wasn't in a rush, easy as and so worth it with a black interior

 

I would say a lot depends how tall you are. At 6'5" I definitely appreciate the extra headroom.

 

A pro would be that if you ever come to sell, it would be more attractive to a potential buyer.

 

From my experience so far the cabin of the SLK will get pretty hot here in TX no matter what. I have the R172 Panoramic Glass Roof without the Magic Sky control and have gone driving a couple of times when it was 95-100 Deg F* and the OEM tint did a pretty good job, I do like it feels more open when the top is closed. since the cabin is small the A/C unit does a really good job keeping you cool and I don't mind the sunlight coming thru. If I do want a little shade, I always keep my AMG Cap behind the driver's seat cubby storage

 

Just Need to find one now in the Uk !

 

i Have found a Roof Liner with the part number A17279000459H23 which i think is correct for the Slk but the seller is stating that it only fits the SLC ? 2016 to 2019
i can see the part number so i know it is correct but wondered if i am missing something ? are the roofs the same size on both cars ?
by the look of it he has taken it out of a SLC

 

That part number also fits a 2014 R172 according to a couple of online Mercedes parts sites.

 

I'm pretty sure the Face Lift R172 (SLC) had the same roof

Mainly front and back bumper changes:

 

Exact same code so would seem so

 

I ordered part no A1727900045 / 9H23 from Mercedes for my 2013 SLK within a week of owning it. If that’s the part no on the headliner it will fit your car. Maybe the seller took it off his SLC and assumes thats what it only fits..........

 

That Is My Thoughts thanks

 

first off congrats on the new car, enjoy
I purchased one last summer and it has the panoramic roof
from personal use my car has 3 modes
If the sun is out the roof is down
If cloudy the roof is down and air scarf is on
If raining the roof is up

 

first off congrats on the new car, enjoy
I purchased one last summer and it has the panoramic roof
from personal use my car has 3 modes
If the sun is out the roof is down
If cloudy the roof is down and air scarf is on
If raining the roof is up

Thanks I Love it !!! the S button is Very Addictive I Had the roof down a lot yesterday !

 

I’d love one, you’ve made the right choice! Enjoy..... 👍

 

I've got a Jig-Saw, Duck Tape & some Cling Film if You fancy trying a R171 Panoramic Roof mod..??